THE SALMON-TROUT 255 



grilse salmon-trout are known as herlings, blacktails, and 

 Lammasmen, from their annual appearance at Lammastide, 

 in the beginning of August, Sprod, in the north of England, 

 usually means this fish in the smolt stage, descending to the 

 sea, though here again the name is sometimes applied to them 

 when they reach the grilse, or herling, stage. In Ireland 

 salmon-trout are generally called white trout, in distinction 

 from the yellow or brown trout of fresh water. 



There be some men who aver that fishing for sea-trout 



is finer sport than can be had with salmon. Certainly, when 



^ , there are plenty of fish in the water and the river is 



Angling • ^ ■ J r ..... , 



for Salmon- in trim, there are rew more exciting diversions than 

 salmon-trout afford to the fly-fisher. The sport is in 

 perfection when the stream is of such size as may be commanded 

 by a single-handed trout rod, nine or ten feet long. With two 

 flies of modest dimensions, a medium fine gut-cast, and fifty or 

 sixty yards of running line, the angler ought to be able to 

 manage anything he is likely to encounter. It is true, he may 

 chance to hook a twenty-pound salmon ; even a six-pound 

 salmon-trout will lead him a pretty dance ; but the ideal 

 stream for salmon-trout is one that can be commanded from 

 bank to bank with such tackle as I have described ; and if the 

 fish takes to running, the fisher must run too. 



In larger rivers, a longer rod is necessary, but on no 

 account must it exceed fifteen feet, though it will be advisable to 

 have at least one hundred yards of line upon the reel. By using 

 thirty yards of relatively heavy silk line for casting, backed 

 by seventy yards or more of the fine, but amazingly strong, 

 undressed silk line made for tarpon-fishing, the whole can be 

 packed away in a reel of very moderate dimensions. To use 

 heavier tackle and a longer rod than these, even in the great 

 rivers of Norway, is to forego half the charm of angling for 

 these lively fish. The brisk, dashing rise, the rapid rushes 

 and frequent leaps they make when hooked, lose their 

 piquancy through the medium of an eighteen-foot salmon 



